39) SG to FT, September 15, 1897.
Sept. 15th, 1897.
Mr. Fusataro Takano
#31 Oiwake Street
Hongo, Tokyo, Japan.
Dear Sir & Brother:--
Your favor of Aug. 4th came duly to hand and contents noted. I do not want to intorduce [sic] any objection to your writing special letters for the Firemens magazine, but I am afraid it may have an effect to deter our contributions to the syndicate letter because they may imagine that I am not dealing fairly with them. Yet I would not wish that you stop these letters and certainly not attribute it to my statement for I do not think our friend Carter would take kindly to it. He and I hold very friendly relations toward each other and for no consideration would I want them disturbed. You will see by the Sept. issue of the American Federationist that your letter is published in it and I have requested the subscribers to also send you copy of their issues containing the article. There are seventeen subscribers to the letter: deducting postage and distribution and extra copies for which we have had to pay the printer also deducting the cost of money order I have forwarded you Post Office money order on the Japan Post Office for $11.OO. I also enclose blank receipt which you will kindly sign and return here. I trust that you are satisfied with this effort and that the money may contribute toward organizing the workers in your country. I am glad too that my suggestion in regard to having photographs meets with your approval. I only ask that you write under the photograph what the subject is in order that a clear comprehension may be given to the readers.
I am very much pleased to see the success with which your efforts have met to organize trade unions. The offices which you have created I think are entirely appropriate and conducive to good results.
The suggestion of the demonstration on the birth day of the Emperor of Japan I trust may result in bringing to the notice of those in authority the necessity of doing the best they can in order to protect the wage workers from the great wrongs from which they suffer. I beg you to excuse the brevity and perhaps the incoherence of this letter. The miners strike, the rush of work and travelling makes it necessary for me to be intensely brief. With kindest regards and best wishes and hoping to hear from you soon and that you will keep writing your letters regularly in order that they may be promptly sent out I am,
Fraternally yours,
Samuel Gompers.
President A.F. of L.